Robert David Gara

Robert David Gara, 91, passed away October 25, 2024, in Carmel, Indiana. He was born December 1, 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Marian (Gridley) Gara and Denes Gara. Originally named Major Robert David Gara, upon joining the U.S. Army Reserve, Bob made a split-second decision to drop his first name (Major) to avoid rank confusion about a soldier who would otherwise be named Private Major Gara.

Bob graduated from Milford High School (Milford, CT), the University of Connecticut (bachelor’s degree in business education) and Northern Illinois University (master’s degree in School Business Administration). As a teenager, Bob was one of only a few local boys to own an automobile, and he used it to sweep his future wife, Carol (Mark) Gara, off her feet. Bob and Carol were married June 13, 1953, and were happily married until Carol’s death sixty-six years later in 2020. They had two sons, Scott and Kevin.

Most of Bob’s career was as a School Business Administrator, which is like being the Chief Financial Officer for a public school district. He beat out thirty other applicants to land his first Business Manager job for the school district in Enfield, CT. He managed the budget, payroll, union negotiations, bus transportation, cafeterias, property management and maintenance. Back in the 1960’s, Bob taught himself to program a computer using punch cards and was among the first in his field to use computer processing to make schools run more efficiently. He only ever had one boss, school Superintendent Charles (Charlie) Szuberla, because each time Charlie would move to a new school district, he would hire Bob to be the new Business Manager.

After working in Connecticut, Illinois and upstate New York, Bob and Carol retired in Naples, Florida where they enjoyed many games of tennis and rounds of golf. Quite by accident (or maybe not) he retired in a community adjacent to where Charlie and his wife retired years earlier. After Hurricane Irma damaged their home in 2007, Bob and Carol moved to Carmel, Indiana to be closer to Kevin and his family.

Bob is survived by his son, Kevin and wife, Penny (Nowlin) Gara; granddaughter Jessica (Gara) Martin and her husband, Joe Martin; granddaughter Kelly Gara; great granddaughters Emma and Robyn Martin; numerous nieces and nephews; and his faithful cat, Princess.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; Marian and Denes Gara; his wife, Carol; son Scott; Scott’s children Kelly, Jennifer and Lindsay; and Bob’s sister, Felice (Gara) Kershner.

In his final years, Bob received loving care and support from his family, the wonderful staff at Woodland Terrace of Carmel, Stacey Caruthers and the compassionate caregivers of Extended Family Companions, and the angels at Anchor of Hope Hospice.

A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday November 20, 2024 from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm in the Overlook Dining Room and Bar, on the 4th floor at Woodland Terrace, 689 Pro-Med Lane, Carmel, IN 46032. Appetizers and refreshments will be served.

3:30 – 4:30 pm, Social Hour

4:30 – 5:00 pm, Bob’s Life-in-Review (by Kevin)

5:00 – 5:30 pm, Open Mic

No flowers please. Memorial gifts may be made to the Humane Society for Hamilton County, 10501 Hague Rd, Fishers, IN 46038.

Neptune Society has been entrusted with cremation arrangements.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at:

https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/indianapolis-in/robert-gara-12046675.